Native Peoples of the Subarctic

Largest natural region of North America, covering 3 million square miles.
Physiographic Regions:
- Canadian Shield/Mackenzie Borderlands
- The Cordillera
- The Alaska Plateau
Climate: Long, cold winters and short, warm summers with low evaporation rates; ample water resources.
Environmental Zones: Three main areas: tundra, boreal forest, and deciduous forest.
Languages: Home to around 30 major groups of Athapaskan and Algonquian language families.

Lifestyle primarily focuses on hunting and fishing with minimal gathering.
Economic activities traditionally include fur trade.
Groups are characterized as highly mobile, with small populations, large territories, and simple political systems.
Language distribution reflects initial colonization of the region around 7000 years ago.

Communities organized in flexible, small bands comprising a few related families.
Regular movement occurs to hunt and adapt to cold winds.
In summer, groups band temporarily together; appointed headmen oversee community activities.
Conflict: War was common, based on feuds, often influenced by shamans; warfare viewed without associated glory.

Nuclear family serves as the primary social unit; extended families also present.
Band structures and task groups formed within families.
Kinship is bilateral with clan and reciprocal moieties.
Significant cultural practices include vision quests and organized marriages, with polygamy being commonplace.
Sexual division of labor is prominent; premarital sex is accepted, but adultery is not.
Important cultural markers: later stages of life impact beliefs surrounding death and burial practices, emphasizing loss of power.
Cultural activities: Include games, music, storytelling, and dancing.

Subsistence is based on hunting and fishing; no agricultural practices.
Women gather plants; the dog is the sole domestic animal.
Sharing, reciprocity, and cooperation are cornerstones of economic interactions.
Key species for sustenance include caribou and moose; fish like salmon, trout, and whitefish are crucial.
Pemmican (a mixture of dried meat and fat) serves as a food preservation method in warm weather.

Housing: Structures include tents, lean-tos, and earth-covered areas.
Transportation methods: canoes, toboggans, and dogsleds enhance mobility.
Clothing: Importance of tailored garments made from tanned hides; includes tunics, leggings, and winter attire like snowshoes.
Tools: Typically constructed from bone, wood, bark, and stone; no pottery utilized.

Concept of impersonal power in the universe with spirits in animals, plants, and landscapes.
Ritual respect for animals reflects cultural values; humans are expected to treat game with respect and gratitude.
Shamans play crucial roles in community, casting spells, treating illnesses, and performing witchcraft to influence outcomes.

Post-Indian Act of 1951, expanded benefits in Canada for Indigenous groups.
Increased focus on community and housing programs from the 1960s onward.
Contemporary health challenges include chronic issues like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Economic activities: Involves wage labor in sectors such as lumber and minerals, while traditional ecological struggles persist (e.g., Grassy Narrows First Nation opposing clear-cutting).

Terminology: "Cree" is a European designation for this native population.
Geography: Inhabits a vast area in eastern Subarctic, characterized by boreal forests and numerous waterways.
Language: Part of the Algonquian language family.
Historical context: Significant interaction with European fur traders dating back to the early 1600s.
Demographics: As of 1978, population estimates were around 35,000 recognized across 45 bands; current estimates suggest 200,000 + Métis heritage individuals today.